They’ll never raise a knife ter me back
…only direct ter me face…
14. Give Me - Take You
Give me
Another chance...
When a journey
Begins badly
It rarely
Ends well
Such is life…
A journey…
Unusual…
Commencing
On arrival
Concluding
At departure
Origin
Destination
Shrouded in
Mystery
Arrival time
Departure time
Arbitrary
Accidents
And delays
Constant hazards
Some of us
Ambitious
Dynamic
Achievers
Some of us
Plod along
Wallow in
Ignorance
Most of us
Are aware
Destination
Becomes clear
Out of reach
Come with me
You will see
Lifetime
Not wasted
I’ll die happy
If I ever
Get the chance to
Take you
15. Winter In May
Long time waiting for rain to stop
Glance through window for a forecast
Biting wind brings winter to May
Obstinate clouds attach to sky
Then a crack in the old man’s face
Lips of cloud part in a smile
A fleeting flash of an idea
As a steady shaft of warmth exudes
Not even the wind dare disturb it
A memory of former glory?
Or a promise of summer to come?
Just as the promise you broke last year?
Or is it a declaration?
A battle cry to win the day
And prove your personality
Is strong enough to rule the sky
Undiluted by wind and rain?
An eye appears and opens wide
Then another follows suit
The smile becomes a gaping yawn
Blows hard into the stubborn wind
Dispersing grey, revealing blue
Transforming winter into spring
One day…two personalities
16. Just Do What It Says On The Label
No soaking,
Dry cleaning
No biological powders
Wash dark colours separately
Machine wash
Use no bleach
Must be washed
Inside out
Similar colours together
Re-shape the garments whilst still damp
Iron them
On reverse
17. Underwear
Before Roy was an adult
His mum bought his underwear
Sunday to Saturday pants
So he’d remember which pair
To put on, and when to change.
Now, of course, he shops himself
He can choose from the whole range
Any item on the shelf
Any colour, shape or size
Violet, green, blue, indigo
Three more pairs, it’s no surprise
The colours of Roy’s rainbow
18. Counting To Ten Doesn’t Always Work
‘It was a wrong number that started it.
The telephone ringing three times in the night.’
It was the right decision that ended it.
I counted to ten, and switched on the light.
I answered the phone to a foreign voice.
‘I can’t understand a word you are saying.’
I kept the line open; my language was choice.
‘It’s a … long-distance … call … … … and you are … paying!’
19. Homework
Thank God for ‘Dinner Ladies’
Part-time school time lunchtime help
Taught me more than some teachers
With their helpful dining hints
‘Drink your milk; avoid rickets’
‘Fruit and veg prevent scurvy’
Friday afternoon homework
Biology teacher says
‘Assignment for this weekend
Write about these two subjects
Calcium deficiency
Shortage of Vitamin C’
Thank God for ‘Dinner Ladies’
20. Road To Nowhere
Return, to pick up the thread
of a forgotten story.
Fibres of exposed loose end
provoke undisciplined start;
vague, indirect. Compel me
to take the long way around,
and round again, in circles;
ever decreasing circles
surrounding the hidden core.
Uncovered; plot unravelled,
I’ll know you, outside and in.
That faded exterior,
gateway to your heart; as yet
unseen, untouched…Get ready,
here it comes; the dead centre
…And it’s over…just like that.
21. Resolution
Same old, same old, sad old year
Regrets…? Perhaps a few
Another year, another chance
To start our lives anew
Half the time, I’ve half a mind
To make more time for you
The other half, on the other hand
Confusion clouds my view
Too many irons in too many fires
Too much on my plate
In truth, all lies, if truth be known
Truth is, it’s not too late
My clear intent, to clear the way
My resolution spoken
My promise that, I promise, will
Survive intact, unbroken
22. No Oil Painting
‘Tropical storm’ due this afternoon
Arriving by aeroplane
If I don’t meet her at the airport
There could be a hurricane
Wet and windy I can endure
Battered from pillar to post
That’s a different kettle of fish
Effects are felt coast to coast
‘Tropical Storm’ aka Penny
Visits me three times a year
*Everybody needs a part time love
‘Bad Penny’ haunts me... Suits her!
‘Old Eyesore’ wears her make-up (((LOUD)))!
And applies it hit and miss
Wears her outfits two sizes too small
“Does me bum look big in this?”
You’ve got to love her, my ‘Bird of Prey’
Laugh a minute down the pub
She downs pints of *Babycham - in one!
“Love, could you give’s a sub”
I can’t compare her to a Red Rose
‘Old Oak Tree’ is more exact
While sleeping, with her make-up removed
She sure looks rough... that’s a fact!
*Acknowledgements:
'Everybody needs a part time love'
from the song 'Part Time Love'
by Elton John
From the 1978 Album 'A Single Man'
Babycham is the trade name of a light,
sparkling perry invented by Francis Showering,
a brewer in Shepton Mallet, Somerset, England
23. Hidden Gem
An open-minded attitude
A positive perspective
And a logical arrangement of each thought
An analytical approach
To complex problem-solving
Guarantees success in ways that can’t be bought
Correct decision-making
Comes from understanding tasks
Objectivity; unhurried route to goal
&n
bsp; Your patience is rewarded
Once you crack the combination
Gaining access to the secrets of the soul
24. Whatever
“Here’s how I see it…
Waste of time!
In my opinion
She’s a waste of time
At an educated guess
She sees it… different
But I got her sussed
Right out
It’s like this…
I won’t waste my time
I don’t have the patience
My mind’s made up
I’m determined
Adamant
How will she take it…?
Time will tell
I don’t have the patience
I don’t even care
There you go
You see?
Gotta think
Gotta observe
Keep your eye on the ball
And if she was right there
In front of me
In clear view
I wouldn’t waste my words
She would say
‘I like you’
And I would say
‘Cool’
She would say
‘I want you’
And I would say
‘Well cool’
She would say
‘I need you’
And I would say
‘Really cool’
She would say
‘I love you’
And I would say…
…'Whatever’…”
25. After The Drought
Lightning first, then thunder
In between the two... a gap
Counting down the seconds
Till the mighty clap
Time to concentrate
On the need of the masses
And forget about
The greed of upper classes
It’s that time of year when rainfall
Brings the precious gift of life
And without it, hardship
Poverty and strife
Spare a thought for those poor souls
Who keep your bellies full
When, on holiday
The sky above turns dull
26. Just A Thought
The thing on my mind is thought
The most fundamental of functions
Thoughts may be triggered by words
Perhaps a current event
A previous encounter
An action now in progress
An action already completed
Thoughts may have influences
They may be original
A thought may enter the mind
And dwell in the consciousness
Waiting to be joined by other thoughts
When the Thought Process may begin
Equally likely it may take
Residence in the sub-consciousness
Where it may lie dormant, or
Just remain under-developed
For any period of time
From a fraction of a second
To years, or even decades
When a single thought develops
Into a cohesive
Series or sequence of thoughts
Then an Idea is born
This idea may become a plan
To do, or to use something
Or to make available
The knowledge of some thing
Putting a plan into action
May be relatively simple
Or may be extremely complex
Requiring extensive research
But once put into practice
And made available
To the general public
Private organizations
Or individuals
Every idea or concept
Is subject to repercussions
Ranging from; popular acceptance
Approval and gratitude
Rejection, disappointment
Or even opposition
- To official recognition
Endorsement by authorities
Or criminal proceedings
For any number of
Potential technical infringements
From someone who thought of it first
27. Influence
What words could best convey
What voices never say? Should they
Compare a woman to a rose
A summer flower?
Without the metaphor, the rhyme
The memory gets lost in time
Like friends forgotten, words become neglected
And repetition makes our words effective
The repetition makes our words effective
And time spent changing plans
Perfecting formats, rhythm spans
Internal rhyme; worth every dime
Each patient moment
The finished product on the page
Like finest wine, improves with age
Uncorked, its complex balance never tires us
In years to come, its image serves to fire us
In verse to come, our homage will inspire us
28. Put Everything Together
Interstellar overdrive
Cigarettes and alcohol
Sex and drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll
Magical mystery tour
Sunday morning coming down
Every day is like Sunday
If God will send his angels
Happiness is a warm gun
The man who dies every day
Someone saved my life tonight
Hiroshima, mon amour
The girl with the dirty shirt
Lady with the spinning head
To know her is to love her
Everybody’s everything
I’ve got my mind set on you
Twentieth century fox
Can you feel the love tonight?
I will never be untrue
Believe that I understand
Only love can break your heart
Stay a little bit longer
Let’s spend the night together
In the future when all’s well
Whenever God shines his light
Take good care of my baby
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Acknowledgements:
MORCHEEBA: Put everything together
PINK FLOYD: Interstellar overdrive
Shine on you crazy diamond.
OASIS; Cigarettes and alcohol
The girl with the dirty shirt
IAN DURY: Sex and drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll
THE BEATLES: Magical mystery tour
To know her is to love her
Take good care of my baby
JOHNNY CASH: Sunday morning coming down
MORRISSEY: Every day is like Sunday
In the future when all’s well
U2: If god will send his angels
Happiness is a warm gun
Lady with the spinning head
THE STONE ROSES: I am the resurrection
ULTRAVOX: The man who dies every day
Hiroshima mon amour
THE DOORS: I will never be untrue
Twentieth century fox
SANTANA: Everybody’s everything
GEORGE HARRISON: I’ve got my mind set on you
ELTON JOHN: Someone saved my life tonight
Can you feel the love tonight?
MAGAZINE: Believe that I understand
NEIL YOUNG: Only love can break your heart
UB40: Stay a little bit longer
THE ROLLING STONES: Let’s spend the night together
VAN MORRISON: Whenever God shines his light
29. The Day After Tomorrow
Yesterday I changed my mind
Not my decision; my mind
Yesterday I knew nothing
My attitude gave me strength
Educated me anew
Today I know so much more
Today all knowledge is mine
Not yours, not ours to share; mine
Today I know everything
My arrogance gives me pride
Questions my education
Tomorrow I will know less
Tomorrow my light will fade
Not switch off completely; fade
Tomorrow I’ll know… something
My loss will give me wisdom
At an educated guess
The next day I’ll know for sure
The next day will be my last
Not penultimate; my last
The next day I will know what’s next
My God will take me away
No need for education
The next day God will know best
30. Trinity
Digits dance along the fingerboard to match the speed of sound
Mesmerising the spectator with a rhythm to astound
Bengali family tradition in a Ravishing display
Of a master class sitar performance – takes your breath away
Half a world away Evita’s husband was responsible
For a choice of diplomatic post that made it possible
For a talented piano prodigy to win acclaim
Captivating global audiences; while she shunned the fame
Be it by inheritance or divined by intervention
Music lives and breathes and prospers long after its invention
Three in one the composition from Prime Numbers One Two Three
Fathers, daughters, spiritus conspire; revered - a trinity
31. Fountain Of Tears
It takes both feet
Left as well as Right
To obey marching orders
Am I Right, or am I… wrong?
Command given
Rapid, the response
Left, right; left, right; left, right; left…
Halt…! That sounds a bit too fast
Right here, in Spain
The pace is slower
Iz-qui-er-do, De-re-cho
Izquierdo, Derecho
…But we have wings
Right-wing and Left-wing
Falange – Republicano
Who’s Right…? And what’s left?
Left for Madrid
Right at the wrong time
Three days before it began
The Spanish Civil War… right…?
Just one month in
My brother-in-law